Airplane type kite



Jan., 3, 195@ A. J. ToMczYK Er AL, 2,493,704

AIRPLANE TYPE KITE Filed March 21, 1947 Patented Jan. 3, 1950 AIRPLANE TYPE KITE Alphonse J. Tomczyk, Chicago, and Melvin C. Spreitzer, Des Plaines, Ill.

Application March 21, 1947, Serial No. 736,210 claims. (ol. 244-454) f, The present invention relates generally to kites. More particularly the invention relates to that type of kite which is shaped or des-igned to simulate a conventional single Wing variety airplane, consists of a longitudinally extending beam, an empennage in the form of horizontal and vertical fins, a pairA of complemental, oppositely extending wing sections on the front end of the beam, and a body or fuselage simulating strip along the beam, and is so constructed that the Wing sections and the vertical fin are detachable in order that the kite may be transported or stored in knock-down form and when in such form is capable of being retained in a small sized container.

One object of the invention is to provide a kite of this type which is an improvement upon, and has certain inherent advantages over, previously designed kites of the same general character and is characterized by the fact that it is essentially simple in design and construction and possesses extremely desirable flying characteristics.

Another object of the invention is to provide an airplane type kite of the last mentioned character in which each of the wing sections comprises in addition to a covering a single or one-piece U- shaped frame forming wire and is connected to l the front end .of the longitudinally extending beam by Way of a pair of brackets to which the ends of the Wire are removably attached.

Another object of the invention is to provide a kite of the type and character last mentioned in which the coverings of the wing sections are in the form of elongated envelopes which have open inner ends, are adapted to be mounted in place by sliding them inwards around the U- shaped frame forming wires, and provide spaced apart upper and lower surfaces for the wing sections.

Another object of the invention is to provide an airplane -type kite of the type and character under consideration in which the inner open endsr `piece of comparatively stii cardboard vand are bonded or adhesively connected to the bottom face of the longitudinally extending beam.

.f A still further object of the invention is to provide an airplane type kite which ls generally of new and improved construction and by reason of its specilic design is capable of being produced at a comparatively low cost.

Other objects of the inven-tion and the various advantages and characteristics of the present airplane type kite will be apparent from a consideration of the following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof.

In the drawing which accompanies andforms a part of this specification or disclosurev and in which like numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a perspective of an airplane type kite embodying the invention, certain parts being broken away for purposes of illustration;

Figure 2 is an enlarged fragmentary plan view of the front end of the kite, illustrating in detail the manner in which the ends of the U-shaped frame forming wires of the wing sections are detachably connected to the front end of the longitudinally extending beam, and also the manner in which the inner open ends of the envelopes constituting the coverings for the wing sections are connected together;

Figure 3 is a vertical transverse section through one of the Wing sections;

Figure 4 is an enlarged side view of one ofthe brackets 'whereby the wing sections are detachably connected to the front end of the longitudidesigned to simulate a monoplane, i. e., a conventional single wing variety airplane. As its prinf cipal components or parts the kite comprises a` longitudinally extending beam 6, an empennage or tail structure 1, a pair of wing sections 8, and a body or fuselage simulating strip 9.

The beam 6 is preferably formed of wood. It I constitutes the main supporting or reenforcing instrumentality of the kite and is square in cross section.

The empennage 1 serves as the tail of the kite and consists of a horizontally extending iin i0... Both are and a vertically extending vfin Il. formed of comparatively stiff cardboard.v The rudder of the empennage of aconventional airl *Y plane. It is centrally positioned with respect to the horizontal fin and extends upwards from, jand is suitably connected to, the rear end of the Y Y longitudinally extending beam 6. Preferably the; vertical n II is connected to the beam'byhavv ing the bottom Vmargin thereof confined and tting within a vertical longitudinally extending slit I2 in the rear end of the beam. This ar rangement makes it possible to detach the vertical fm from thevbeam in connection with transporta-V tion'or storing of -the kite as a whole. It is con-V templated that thekite will be merchandised in knock-down form and assembled for use. If, inY

connectionwith assembly, it is desired permanently to'secure the vertical n II in place Yit is only necessary to cement or adhesively connect the bottom margin of Vsuch iin to the facesof theA beam'that define the slit` I2i. As an alternative, brads (not shown) :may be driven transversely through the slitted `rear end of the beam 6 and positioned so as to pass through the confined lower margin of the n. 1

Thewing sections 8 are located at the 'front end of, andV project outwardsin opposite directions from, the front end ofthe longitudinally extending beam 6 and are complemental. They serve as the main supportingV surfaces for the kite and,4 as hereinafter described,V are detachably` connected to said frontend ofthe beam 6. Each wing consistsv of. a single or one-piece U-shape'd` frame forming vwire I3 and vacover formingen- Vvelope I4. lil/hen the wing sections 8 are Yin attachedfor connected relation with the beam the ends of thewires I3 are disposed adjacent the front end ofthe beam.; `The front legsofthe wires formfthe'front spars of the wing sectionsA and the rear legs of the' 'Wires form the rear spars. VIhecurved or rounded intermediate portions of the wires constitute the tip portions of the, frames ofV the wingv sections.l The ends of the wiresv I3 -iitislidablywithin'the ends of a 'pair of tubes I5.' 'The latterioverlie .andY extend transversely of the front 'end of the'beam 6.v

They arespaced horizontally apart andi have the central portionsv .thereof connected toithe upper central portions 'of'.aV pairvof sleeve-like brackets I6. Asbestshownsin Figures 4;andf5,the'brack` ets, le adem-.iY around andv grip' fricuonauy the front end of thebeam 6. It is contemplated that in connection with fabricationV of the kite the 'brackets I6 will'be slidlinto place on the front end of the beam 6.. .Y It' desired the tubes I5 rnayv be formed integrally withthe sleeve-like brackets I6V as shown .in Figure ifi.;` Y'The 'ends of Vthe vU'- shaped wiresIS, as heretofore pointed out, iitslidably withintheends ofthe tubes I5'and hence permit Vthe wing sections 8V to be removed or dej tachedV simply by shifting-themroutwards with respect tothe beamV S. The wires I 3 arie'bent upwards adjacent the ends thereof in order that. the wi-ngsections' vwh'e'nin place have the desired or properY dihedral;V Preferably the rear legs of and lower sheets are pasted together.

Tend margins of the sheets are not, however, pasted `uidf impervious paper and `consist of upper sheets II and lower sheets I 8`. 'I'he rear, outer end, and front marginal portions of the upper The inner together and hence permit the envelopes to be slid inwards into surrounding or assembled relation with the U-shaped wires I3 in connection with assembly of the wing sections. By providing the frontlegs. of the wires I3 with a rear sweepback sliding of the envelopes I4 into place is facilitated.

The length of the envelopes I4 is such that when the envelopes are in place'the open inner'ends terminate adjacent theVv ends of Vthe frame form-J ing wires I3. VIn connection with mounting or at# tachment of the wing sections thefends vof the wires I3 Vare'frstinsertedlintov the ends of the tubes I5. Thereafter Vthe envelopes I I4 are 'slidf inwards'so that the -open inner ends vthereof sur-` roundthe ends of the tubes I5. In order to con# nect together the wingsections after assemblyf thereof with respect to the tubes I5 the inner end" f marginrof the upper sheet I'I lof one of the ena velopes is providedwith a`flap I9. This ap'is adapted to'overlap the inner end marginal portionof the upper sheetof theother envelope and erng bodies on its under surface a coating of pressure Y tcm face of the beam' theside vportions ofthe stripjv 91 project outwardsf Y 5 Wth'lthrskllt tha. anadditiona-l supporting sure'v i e `As shown in the drawing,l the f. strip 3 is at and has a rounded front end which: terminatesY inwards fof the front' endextremity Y the U -shapedwiresl extendrat true right angles' to: the beam 'and the front-legshavea rearwardE sensitive variety or other adhesive whereby it may be secured-in place. YThe upper andlower'Y sheets I'I and' I 8 of the covering forming envelopes form respectively the upper andV .lower surfaces. of the wing sections; as well as the lower ysheets and'spacing the sheets apart by the U-shaped'frame: forming wires I32 the wingV sections have'exceptionallyppronounced high liftl characteristics'and thus permit thekite in connection with flightY thereof toattain come` paratively high altitudes. When it isdesired to remove'the wing sections 8 in connection with storage of the kiteV the flap I9 is removed 01 re' leased. Thereafter". the Atwo wing sections are shifted outwards so as to' slide the ends of the" wiresy I3 out of thev ends ofthe tubes I5'on the.

sleeve-like brackets I6.

The body or'fuselage simulating Vstrip 9 under-l.; lies and extendslengthwiseof thegfront end and the central portionlof thebe'arn 3. It is formed of', comparatively stiff ycardboard 'and preferably has'T the` rearjend. thereof 'formed' integrally with the'j" front v-end of the horizontal'iin 'I0' of the tail"` The central ormedial' structure or empennage 'l'. portion ofthev strip Bis'cein entefd,V adhesively conf nected or otherwise 'xedly secured to the bot'` :'As shown in Figure 1- offthe sides of the beam the stripfserves as face'fr the kite;-

of the beam 6.

VIn nymg 'the kites-telly string 2o and amain- Y string 2I are? employed. Onejendof'y the belly; string is connectedV to the front end of Vthefbea'm 6-and the-other end is connected to thejrear end of the strip 9. Theikitef'end 4ci the-main string By having theY upper sheets'l and is so positioned with respect to the belly string that the kite when subjected to forward propulsion into the wind will fly upwards.

The herein described airplane type kite, due to its design and construction, is efficient and possesses highly desirable flying characteristics. It is capable of being produced at a comparatively low cosi; and may be assembled and dismantled with facility.

The invention is not to be understood as restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified Within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention,

Having thus described the invention what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. As a new article of manufacture, an airplane type kite comprising a longitudinally extending beam provided at its rear end with a fin variety tail structure, a pair of oomplemental wing sections projecting outwards in opposite directions from the front end of the beam and each embodying an elongated one-piece U-shaped frameforming wire arranged so that the curved part thereof is outermost, tapered outwards in the direction of said curved part, and having the ends thereof connected to said front end of the and an elongated covering-forming envelope shaped conformably to, and extending over, the wire, consisting of one-piece upper and lower sheets of imporous paper with the front, outer end, and rear margins thereof pasted together, and having the inner end thereof open in order that it may be slid onto and off of said wire, and releasable means for securing the inner ends of the envelopes in place adjacent seid front end of the beam.

2. As a new article of manufacture, an airplane type kite comprising a longitudinally extending beam provided at its rear end with a n variety tail structure, a pair of complemental wing sections projecting outwards in opposite directions from the front end of the beam and each embodying an elongated one-piece U-shaped frame-forming wire arranged so that the curved part thereof is outermost and having the rear leg thereof extending at right angles to the beam and its front leg inclined rearwards so that it is outwardly tapered, and having the inner ends of said rear and front legs connected to said front end of the beam, and an elongated coveringforming envelope shaped conformably to, and extending over, the wire, consisting of onepiece upper and lower sheets of thin, imporous, exible material with the front, outer end and rear margins thereof bonded together, and having the inner end thereof open in order that it may be slid onto and oif of said wire and releasable means for securing the inner ends of the en velopes in place adjacent the front end of the beam.

3. As a new article of manufacture, an airplane type kite `comprising a longitudinally extending beam provided at its rear end with a fin variety tail structure, a pair of complemental wing sections projecting outwards in opposite directions from the front end of the beam and each embodying an elongated U-shaped frame arranged so that the curved part thereof is outermost and having the ends thereof connected to said front end of the beam, and an elongated covering-forming envelope shaped conformably to, and extending over, the frame and having the inner end thereof open in order that it may be slid onto and off of said frame, and releasable means for securing together the inner open ends of the envelopes, consisting of a ap connected to the inner open end of one of the wing sections, adapted to lap the inner open end of the other wing section, and provided with an instrumentality for attaching it to the last mentioned end.

4. As a new article of manufacture, an airplane type kite comprising a longitudinally extending beam provided at its rear end with a fin variety tail structure, a pair of complemental wing sections projecting outwards in opposite directions from the front end of the beam and each ernbodying an elongated UMshaped frame arranged so that the curved part thereof is outermost and having the ends thereof connected to said front end of the beam, and an elongated coveringforming envelope shaped conformably to and extending over, the frame and having the inner end thereof open in order that it may be slid onto and off of said frame, and releasable means for securing together the inner open ends of the envelopes, consisting of a flap connected to the inner open end of one of the wing sections, adapted to lap the inner open end of the other wing section, and provided with an adhesive coating for bonding it to the last mentioned end.

5. As a new article of manufacture, an airplane type kite comprising a longitudinally extending beam of rectangular cross section, a tail structure mounted on the rear end of the beam and including a thin, at, comparatively stiff horizontal fin having the central portion thereof underlying and connected to the bottom face of said beam, a pair of complemental wing seetions connected to, and projecting outwards in opposite directions from, the upper portions of the front end of the beam, and a thin, flat, comparatively stiff body or fuselage simulating strip connected to, and underlying, the front end and central portion of the beam and having its rear end formed integrally with the front end of the horizontal n and its front porton underlying and extending downwardly of the inner ends of the wing sections.

ALPHONSE J. TOMCZYK. MELVIN C. SPREITZER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the rile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,824,324 Bradford Sept. 22, 1931 1,400,735 Eddy Dec. 20, 1921 1,927,835 Kellogg Sept. 26, 1933 2,023,939 Talmadge Dec. 10, 1935 2,257,298 Hahn Sept. 30, 1941 OTHER REFERENCES Airplane Construction and Repair 1931, pages 144, 146 and 147, by Younger. 

